Today's Headlines and Commentary

President Trump has cancelled his planned June 12 summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, the New York Times reports. The announcement comes after a week of worsening relations and threatening statements.

North Korea claims that it has destroyed its Punggye-ri nuclear test site, according to the Washington Post. The alleged destruction came after a massive explosion, followed by a series of explosions over several hours. Destroying the test site is consistent with a promise the North made when Kim-Trump talks were initially proposed; however, the North’s explanation that it destroyed the site because it has completed testing on its nuclear fleet may not reduce tensions.

Trump has instructed the Commerce Department to look into whether automobile imports harm national security, Politico reports. The investigation, under the same law used to impose tariffs on aluminum and steel imports, could result in tariffs of up to 25 percent. The tariffs would be a step towards making good on campaign commitments to American auto workers, but businesses and others note that American carmakers are profitable as it is, and that the tariffs would significantly increase prices for American consumers.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo conceded that Russia interfered in the 2016 election with the goal of electing Trump, Bloomberg says. Pompeo reluctantly accepted U.S. intelligence agencies’ conclusion in testimony Wednesday before the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Meanwhile, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said while she did not recall intelligence saying that Russia’s intent was to help President Trump, she had “no reason to doubt any intelligence assessment.”

Companies of all sizes are struggling to comply with the GDPR regulations that go into effect on Friday, the Wall Street Journal report. The regulations require massive changes in how companies collect data about European subjects, and many say they do not expect to be in compliance by Friday.

Trump’s interference with the Justice Department will do lasting damage to our democracy, David Kris argues in the Atlantic. Trump’s involvement in subverting the intelligence agencies subverts protections established after Watergate and contributes to chipping away at the rule of law.

ICYMI: Yesterday on Lawfare

Steve Vladeck noted a flaw in the Trump administration's compliance with the Federal Vacancies Reform Act as it applies to the succession at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Bob Bauer placed the responsibility for President Trump's troubling and norm-shattering involvement in a Justice Department investigation not with Rod Rosenstein, but squarely with the president and his staff.

Scott R. Anderson and Megan Reiss continued their series on U.S. public opinion regarding the use of force, this time focusing specifically on nuclear threats.

Aurel Sari discussed the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly's resolution on hybrid warfare.

Email the Roundup Team noteworthy law and security-related articles to include, and follow us on Twitter and Facebook for additional commentary on these issues. Sign up to receive Lawfare in your inbox. Visit our Events Calendar to learn about upcoming national security events, and check out relevant job openings on our Job Board.

Stephanie Zable is a third-year law student at the University of Michigan Law School focusing on international law and a second-year master's degree candidate at Johns Hopkins SAIS concentrating in strategic studies. Prior to law school, she lived in China for four years and spent a year traveling through Europe and Asia. She graduated from Oberlin College with a degree in math and politics.